The snake charmer and her foes: Sherry makes good news, out of bad.

Published in Tehelka.

 

The courageous, gallant and fiery female feminist Sherry Rehman is now the US Ambassador of Pakistan; you must have heard.

Former Ambassador Hussain Haqqani who got roasted in the memogate bonfire; had resigned at the peak of the flames that Mansoor Ijaz’s allegations ignited. After much back and forth, Mr. Haqqani intelligently stepped down. Mansoor Ijaz – who is apparently an influential Pakistani American Businessman and; seems to have effortless links in the corridors of power, also has some White House statesmen on his speed dial. This access has a record of not just getting him into places, but also being taken for rides, that he most certainly wills for.

Former Ambassador, Hussain Haqqani used to be one of Ijaz’s close high profile contacts, until ofcourse, he planned to stab his ‘friend’. To make things more dramatic Mansoor Ijaz who is known for fishy-tank history of going back on his words, consoled with Haqqani’s family, “I respect the decision of Pakistan’s prime minister to accept the resignation today of Amb. Husain Haqqani. As government proceeds in its inquiry, I stand ready to assist in any manner necessary. I wish Amb Haqqani and his family well.” Ofcourse the compassion in his speech practically speaks far from his deeds.

As Sami Shah guiltlessly points out  in his Op-ed, “So why would an intelligent man like Haqqani entrust the message to the recipient of the lifetime achievement award for Flip-flopping. Perhaps, Haqqani is just a poor judge of character. He is, after all, also a close friend of President Zardari’s. It happens to the best of us.”

Whether or not was this a fair call, is yet unknown as both sides (Haqqani-Ijaz) are willing to submit to a proper legal process. In essence, the matter has gone to the Court, while PM Gilani has pledged to probe the matter at the ‘highest level’.

Meanwhile, Sherry Rehman, who made a picture perfect transition into the Ambassador position in less than 48 hours, has appropriately shifted the discourse towards a positive. As Huma Sattar, a blogger puts it “It is gratifying to look at a really bad news, turn into a really good news.” Sherry Rehman, the ‘Democracy’s Hero’ as she was once called, has the potential to transform Pakistan’s anxiety turn into confidence.

Sherry was one of those who spearheaded the Blasphemy issue in Pakistan and dauntlessly continued to fight life threats from extremist groups. So while Rehman was criticized by speakers of religio-political parties at large-scale rallies, she kept a low profile in the subsequent months. Especially so, after Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer and the Minister for Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti’s assassinations; when she was told to go into hiding. Yet she continued her work as an activist, slow paced-ly so, but with conviction.

Sherry Rehman has been perhaps, one of the very few parliamentarians who have made impressive headways in their efforts to curb violence and discrimination against women, minority groups and other causes. During her permanent status in assembly, Sherry Rehman authored all five PPP bills tabled in the National Assembly: Women Empowerment Bill, Anti-Honor Killings Bill, Domestic Violence Prevention Bill, Affirmative Action Bill and Hudood Repeal Bill. She also moved two Bills for the Media: the Freedom of Information Bill and the Press Act, which prevents working journalists from being arrested under the 1999 Press Ordinance.

In her journalistic career, she was the first Pakistani to be recognized with an award for independent journalism by the UK House of Lords in its Muslim World Awards Ceremony in the year 2002. Her attempt to write a book also bagged her distinction when Shep Ethnic Textiles Book Award for ‘The Kashmiri Shawl’.
Among others, she was presented the International Peace Award for Democrats by the Human Rights Commission and the ‘The Freedom Award’ Pakistan by the Association of Television Journalists for her work for media independence in Pakistan.

It’s no wonder that Rehman was named among the “100 Most Influential Asians” by UAE magazine Ahlan.
Her journalistic, democratic and parliamentarian achievements are now sought to be instrumental in refining the relationship between US and Pakistan. Recent statements regarding her appointment from the State department of US audibly show signs of the confidence building that has picked up.
Her Pro-India and Open-to-co-operation stance has additionally been much appreciated by the international community. For starters, she believes “We should work on Siachin and Sircreek at-least and not take anything off the table later,” and gradually “move on to the workable plan on Kashmir.”

While Sherry Rehman prepares to soldier on, towards facing new challenges for the country, her best non-adherents come out with black flags to erupt new meaningless rhetoric; as always. The Sunni Tehreek (ST) to be the first, to express ‘serious concerns’ over the appointment of Sherry Rehman as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States (US).

Shahid Ghauri, who is the central leader of the Sunni Tehreek vehemently, said that Rehman was already following “policies of the US and the Jewish lobby as she tried to abolish the country’s blasphemy laws.”
In reflection to late 2010, when Rehman had submitted a private member bill suggesting amendments to the blasphemy law; “We are not satisfied with Sherry Rehman appointment because she is not fair with Islam or the country,” he added with vigor.

If reflected, it is an apt reminder of the former Ambassador’s last speech at a literary event where, Hussain Haqqani managed to press on his deepest feelings. “We as Pakistanis have to make up our mind. Are we going to live in a world where a few TV anchors will generate crises on the word of one man? Are we going to live in a society where people will constantly be afraid that the civilian leadership is conspiring against the army or the army is conspiring against the military leadership?”

While the nincompoop-religious mutineers leak their fanatical flatulence, headlines read between ‘Petition filed in LHC against Sherry’s appointment’ to ‘Pakistan Council of Dallas Fort Worth welcome Sherry Rehman as new Ambassador of Pakistan.’

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